Kira Jewett

Violinist and fiddler Kira Jewett began studying Suzuki violin at the age of 3. As a teen she was a section leader for the Saratoga Performing Arts School of Orchestral Studies with the Philadelphia Orchestra and performed solo and in chamber groups. She played for four years with the Yale Symphony Orchestra and as an adult has been a member of several semi-professional orchestras, including the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, Musica Dolce chamber orchestra, Windham Philharmonic, and several orchestras in Montana.

Looking to expand into new genres, she met Martin Hayes at a fiddle camp and was immediately captivated with his style and his musical philosophy. She apprenticed herself to the great New York Sligo-style fiddler Brian Conway as well as performing and recording in western Montana before returning to the East Coast. Kira has a particular affinity for slow airs and in 2003 became the first American to win the All-Ireland fiddle slow airs competition.

Kira has performed with numerous groups, most notably the trio New Leaf which has received high praise for its two recordings, the self-titled New Leaf and Coming of Spring, including reviews in the Irish Echo and Boston Irish Reporter. The band has performed as guests of the Fleadh Nua traditional music festival in Ennis, Co. Clare. The late, great Boston promoter Brian O’Donovan called New Leaf’s sound “pure drop.” In addition to the fiddle, Kira has been trying her hand recently at piano, harp, whistle and tenor banjo. She also appears on the album “More Irish Folk Tales for Children” with storyteller Sharon Kennedy. Kira is excited to work with violin/fiddle students of all ages and levels, both classical and Irish or other folk styles.